Question

Asked by Sean from australia | Jun. 30, 2019 01:50

About:How to Travel to China without a Visa

Would I qualify for 144 hour visa exemption

I'm a New Zealand citizen, arriving at Guangzhou Baiyun airport 6am 24 July 2019 and will be travelling to Hong Kong via train on 29 July 2019. Would I qualify for 144 hour visa exemption? If so, would I need to have pre-purchased a train ticket from Guangzhou to Hong Kong before I land in Guangzhou?

I'm also staying with relatives in Guangzhou. Do I need an "invitation letter" from them, as well as provide their residential address to the immigration office?

Thank you in advance!

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Answers (6)

Answered by Sean | Jul. 04, 2019 02:56

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Hi there,

Thank you so much for your reply, really appreciate it.

Sorry I should've mentioned. Yes you're right, I'm travelling to Guangzhou from Bali, Indonesia. My itinerary is:
Bali - Guangzhou - Hong Kong

Just want to clarify a few more things:
1. You mentioned that the only train I can take is Guangzhou East railway station and to Hung Hom railway station in Hong Kong. However on your website, the only available ticket for purchase is from Guangzhou South to Kowloon West which takes just under 1 hour. Can I take this train instead?
2. Is Guangzhou Grand Palace Hotel the only place where I can collect the ticket?
3. In terms of registering at the PSB, is there a time frame in which I must register? Is it mandatory that I register? And does it have to be with the relative that I'm staying with? I'm assuming it doesn't matter which PSB I register at though.
4. Will I need to let the airline that I'm travelling with (Southern China) know that I'll be applying for the 144 hours visa free transit upon my arrival?

Thanks,
Sean

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Answered by John Doe | Jul. 04, 2019 09:57

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1) that is a high-speed train and is a no-no for visa-free transit and you must get your ticket from MTR instead (Google Guangzhou-Kowloon Through Train).
2) Not applicable
3) within 24 hours of arrival. Bring your travel document, your relative, and his identity document to the nearest police station. They will capture your photo and give you a receipt, which you will need to hold on to until you have left China.
4) only at check-in. Calling them ahead won't do anything.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Jun. 30, 2019 03:12

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Part one:

Sean, you didn't mention from where will you arrive in Guangzhou. OK, I will assume that this is some third country, different from both Hong Kong and mainland China. So, you itinerary is:

X country (different than both Hong Kong and mainland China) - Guangzhou - Hong Kong

This itinerary is eligible for 144 hours visa free transit and you don't need any kind of invitation letter. All you need is your valid passport, your flight ticket to Guangzhou and your pre-purchased train ticket from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. Regarding the train, be informed that you can only use Guangzhou–Kowloon through train departing from Guangzhou East railway station and arriving at Hung Hom railway station in Hong Kong. The train takes close to 2 hours for this journey. Now, one very important detail. You will have to purchase your ticket through some of the online agencies that will produce an e-confirmation of your purchase with your name/surname and the number of passports on it. Keep in mind that MTR website is not doing that, so purchasing through them could be in principle OK, but in the same time it could ruin your entire journey. Play safe and, as I have told you, purchase this ticket through one of several online agencies selling the ticket for this train online.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Jun. 30, 2019 03:14

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Part two:

Keep in mind that you will need this e-confirmation already at check-in in the country from where you will depart to Guangzhou in hard copy. In reality, you will keep this e-confirmation all the time with yourself. You will present this e-confirmation, along with the credit card you used to book this ticket in Guangzhou Grand Palace Hotel where MTR has established a collection point where you will receive your real, paper ticket.

Upon your arrival in Guangzhou, you will declare that you will stay at your relatives accommodation and you will provide the address and the identity of your relative. Also, you will have to register yourself, accompanied with a relative, at the Public security bureau (PSB).

I understand that is looks a bit complicated at the first sight, but in reality it isn't.

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Answered by ZUPAN | Jun. 30, 2019 05:16

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To make things easier, you can purchase your train ticket on this website, i.e. Travel China Guide.

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Answered by Sean | Jul. 07, 2019 02:57

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Thanks for your reply. I tried purchasing the MTR train on the website but it only had the option to deliver to a residential address or hotel address, which means I can’t pick up the ticket. Can confirm that:
1. I’ll get a email confirmation that the ticket is purchased and that it’s delivered to a residential address?
2. Will the email confirmation be sufficient proof that I’ve got a ticket to leave China within 144 hours?
3. How long will it take for the ticket to be delivered to the address i.e. my relative’s address in Guangzhou?
4. When I purchase the ticket from your website, can I type the address in Chinese characters as I won’t have the English address?

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